Abolish Nuclear Weapons

More than 25 years after the Cold War and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the world’s nuclear stockpiles remain at dangerously high levels. Of the 15,375 estimated nuclear weapons in the world, the United States and Russia have 93% of the world’s nuclear arsenal. An estimated 1,800 of these nuclear weapons are on hair-trigger alert. Current U.S. plans to modernize our nuclear weapons system are unaffordable at a cost of $1 trillion over 30 years, and destabilizing, as they would lead to a new nuclear arms race.

“The Real Nuclear Threat to America is an Accident”

The current chance of any nation intentionally launching its nuclear arsenal is low, so “the real nuclear threat to America is an accident,” says the deputy commander of U.S. nuclear forces. The U.S. has experienced dozens of nuclear near-misses, including dropping two live bombs on North Carolina when a plane malfunctioned. In 1995, Russia almost launched its nuclear missiles at the U.S. when it thought it was under attack. To date, the U.S. has lost 11 nuclear weapons (whereabouts still unknown).

Nuclear Weapons Programs are Really Expensive (And Could Get More Expensive Soon)

The United States will spend at least $179 billion over the fiscal years of 2010-2018 on its nuclear arsenal, averaging $208B per year. The U.S. plans to spend an additional $1T over the next 30 years modernizing its nuclear arsenal, including building Long Range Stand Off weapons (LRSO), which former Secretary of Defense William Perry calls “a uniquely destabilizing type of weapon”. He and Andy Weber, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, have called on President Obama to “lead the world to a stabler and safer future by canceling plans for a new nuclear-capable cruise missile.”

Nuclear Weapons Do Not Address Today’s Most Critical Security Concerns

The costs of nuclear weapons program modernization are particularly jarring because nuclear weapons cannot be used to address terrorism or climate change. Terrorist organizations share space with civilian populations, and the radiation from nuclear weapons cause extensive environmental damage. And, the Pentagon announced in June 2015 that it could reduce strategic nuclear forces by one-third below levels set by the 2010 New START Treaty, continuing a historical trend. The U.S. nuclear stockpile has dropped by 80 percent since its peak in 1967, but is still a formidable and expensive force of about 7,100 warheads (2,500 are intact, awaiting dismantlement).

We Cannot Use These Weapons

Why should the U.S. spend $20 billion per year, and an additional $1trillion over 30 years, on a weapons system we can never again use, when we have underfunded domestic programs? Between 120,000 to 200,000 people – not soldiers, most were civilians – died instantly from our nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hundreds of thousands more died in the following years from radiation related sicknesses. We should invest our money in programs that help the American people, not on programs that cause unparalleled human destruction.

Take Action:Remember the Nuclear Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Tell President Obama We Cannot Repeat This Dark Chapter of World History.

In his 2009 Prague speech, President Obama stated: “So today, I state clearly and with conviction America’s commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.”At the commemorations of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the tragedies the U.S. nuclear bombs inflicted upon hundreds of thousands of people, Peace Action New York State and our local chapters will ask you to take action and make sure that we pave the way for a world without nuclear weapons.

Representative Richard Hanna consistently votes against peace. His votes against Peace Action include: He opposed the Iran Nuclear Deal and voted against prohibiting ground troops in Iraq without Congressional Authorization. He voted in favor of turning away Syrian and Iraqi refugees. He voted in favor of a $38 billion Pentagon budget increase.

Will you support peace with your vote in the congressional primaries on June 16th?